Slight increase in U.S. wholesale stockpiles

WASHINGTON – U.S. wholesalers increased their stockpiles only slightly in July after three monthly declines, while their sales barely rose. The tepid gains add to worries about slower economic growth in the July-September quarter.

The Commerce Department said Wednesday that wholesale stockpiles rose only 0.1 percent in July from June. That followed a 0.3 percent decline in June.